NDNU Theatre Arts Programs

NDNU Theatre Arts Programs

Theatre Arts Major and Minor:

Benefiting from an optimum student/faculty ratio, the Theatre Arts Department offers opportunities for intensive study and performance in an ensemble style.  The major or minor is for students interested in pursuing theatre as a vocation or avocation.  Emphasis is placed on preparing students for active participation in theatre on a graduate study level or as working theatre artists.  Its courses and most productions are open to all members of the student body who are interested in theatre as part of a liberal arts education.  Through active participation in all aspects of theatre production, students learn the skills necessary to create the theatrical experience.

Students are taught to explore a variety of dramatic texts and to read and visualize the play as a stage production.  They learn to understand theatre as a synthesis of many aspects of production that are used to reflect an author's intention and the theatre artists' interpretation.  Theatre Arts majors participate in and study all aspects of stage production.  This experience consists of a balance between acting, directing, production planning, and technical skills.  One special feature of the major is an internship in which the student will work with one of several professional theatre organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Another feature of the major is the opportunity for seniors to produce and direct or design a short play as part of the Theatre Arts Department season.

Many theatre classes are open to all NDNU students, and can meet general education requirements.  NDNU Theatre Arts productions are also open for participation by the entire NDNU community.  Check out our web archive of our previous productions.

Part of the School of Arts and Humanities, the Theatre Arts Department offers a pre-professional undergraduate degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, with an emphasis in general theatre for students seeking careers in teaching, production, directing, or managemen, or performance for students seeking careers in acting/directing or entrance into graduate MFA performance programs.  The Department also offers a Minor in Theatre.  For more detailed information on the Theatre courses and degree requirements, please see our entry in the University Catalog.




Dance Minor:

The NDNU Theatre Arts Department offers a Dance Minor.  The dance curriculum provides a strong program in technical dance, choreography and performance and theatrical dance education.  It is designed to meet the dance education and training needs of student's in the Theatre major.  Courses include Dance for Theatre, Dance Technique, Jazz Dance, Tap, HipHop, Ballet, and Dance for Choreographers, and are open to all NDNU students.

The NDNU Dance Minor consists of fifteen units of dance, a minimum of twelve units must be completed in NDNU dance courses.  The courses are designed to allow students to take individual courses to suit their abilities, interest and needs.  Students in the Dance minor are expected to contribute to the courses and studio activities in which dance performance pieces are developed and rehearsed in preparation for the annual Spring Dance Show.  Dance Minor students often work with Notre Dame High School students for a Winter Showcase, as well.

For more detailed information on the Dance Minor courses and degree requirements, please see our entry in the University Catalog.


Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival

KC/ACTF has been taking place for the last 37 years.  The American College Theatre Festival is a chance for students and educators to come together and immerse themselves in theatre.  There are a wide variety of educational workshops in everything from Acting Theory to Special Effects Make-up.  Acting students compete for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship and design students compete for awards in Costume, Lighting, Set, Sound, and Make-up.  There are also invitational scenes: scenes from schools within the region that are invited to be presented in a public presentation.  Full productions in the participating category may also be selected to be staged at one of the eight regional conferences and the national conference in Washington D.C.  The American College Theatre Festival is the longest running educational program supported by the Kennedy Center.  It offers students and educators a chance to share ideas and techniques, as well as allowing students to compete at a regional and national level.  more info